My typical backpacker's Giant backpack- Deuter Venture 65+10L review

My main backpack for long-ish trip is the Deuter Venture 65+10L backpack.

Here is a semi review sort of...

This monster of a backpack is designed for camping and hiking in the European hiking trails.

A German brand, this backpack is built to last, and so far, I have been using it for 4 years; it still looks like new.

Very little maintenance is needed, just wipe or dab with soapy water to clean is sufficient. To remove odor, a fabric freshener like Febreze from P&G will make the unwanted odor history.

Owing its size, this is definitely a luggage that needs to be checked in.

Suspension system
The suspension system is well proven heavy duty design, mounted to the internal frame spine.
The padding is thick with meshed foam and actually feels comfortable.
It distributes all the weight to the pelvic bone area easily and not much load can be felt on the shoulders.

The spine is the Deuter Vari-Quick adjustable shoulder strap that can be adjusted according to the length of your shoulder to hip.

Layout
This backpack has a lower compartment that stores a sleeping bag, an internal water bag compartment for hydration. 2 outer layer compartment: (1. at the top and 2. at the middle of the bag. It also has a cinch strap at the middle of the bag to hold clothing. The hip belt has pockets for keeping coin etc. In addition, the bag also has 2 slots for holding water bottle.

Furthermore, the bag has a side pocket for quick access to the content without having to access from the top. The top has 4 belt clips to store blankets or other items. Lastly the bag has 2 main compression straps. The vertical to cinch down the 'lid' and the side straps to slim down the bag.

This bag comes with a rain cover tucked under the bottom of the bag.

This backpack is an older model. Internally, this bag is a top loading design with 2 cinch system.


The 1st cinch is tighten the 65L volume.

The second cinch is the tighten the additional 10L volume. Total of 75L in volume.

Pros: Excellent support on the hip/waist with thick padding, one of the best in the business. Shoulder straps are also thick with cushioning. Simple design. Tough and low maintenance. Huge loading space. Cheap compared to other brands.

Cons: Less breathable, and may cause excessive sweating if walking a lot under the South East Asian sun. Slightly heavier than the other brands.

Comfort: 8.5/10
Value: 9.5/10
Durability: 9.5/10
Features: 8/10
Ergonomics: 8.5/10

To prevent damage to the fabric and straps, I bought the Deuter cargo exp bag which can house my giant 65L backpack or expand to house even bigger backpacks. Although not cheap, this cargo duffel is definitely worth it as it will prevent damage during luggage handling/sorting in a conveyor belt.

The review can be seen here.


 As this backpack is top loading, I can stuff plenty of stuff.

I usually load up to 15 or 20 kg. I know my back is screaming in pain!

That is where the thick foam cushioning make this bag comfortable to haul such a heavy load.

Typical load are 1 extra pair of shoes and 1 extra pair of sandals.

7 pairs of t-shirts, 7 pairs of polo/short-sleeved shirts, 7 pairs of pants/shorts. 7 pairs of underwear and 1 bag of toiletries. Even after that, I still have ample room to load.

So far, Deuter Venture 65L +10 is one of the best bang for the buck backpack. I bought this bag at USD 150, the Deuter cargo exp cost another USD 60.

Sometimes, I throw in my laptop and a daypack inside the Deuter Venture 65L, when I just want to lug only one bag. Yes, it is very spacious indeed.

Together, this bags have taken me to Bali, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta.

Conclusion: An awesome backpack for the budget traveller who wants durability, back/hip/shoulder support and extra space.